Rivermen's Ruwe: 'If this was it, I walk out with head held high'

PEORIA -- Cole Ruwe had a "C" on his chest, but he wore his heart on his sleeve Sunday as the Peoria Rivermen exited from the SPHL playoffs.

Ruwe, who will turn 29 in three days, played the 314th game of his pro career Sunday, in the place he always wanted to be, for the team he always wanted to play for.

One of the byproducts of Peoria's move down from the class-AAA American Hockey League to the class-A SPHL last summer was the door it opened for Ruwe.

The kid from Pekin youth hockey, who grew up watching the Rivermen franchise play in the old IHL and ECHL, was the first player to sign with Peoria's SPHL team.

"I want to tell you guys I loved playing with you, it was an honor to be the captain of this team and wear this jersey," Ruwe told his teammates in a hushed locker room after Peoria was eliminated in Game 3 by Columbus. "I love you all, and I love this team."

Ruwe sat back in his locker, buried his face in his hands and cried. He has a tough decision to make this summer. He and his wife have a new baby. Ruwe's body has endured the wear-and-tear of years on the ice in pro hockey's lower levels.

"Columbus played a hard series, maybe some questionable things going on," Ruwe said. "When you play in the lower levels, the officiating is at a lower level, too.

"But we had our chances, we didn't respond.

"Playing for the Rivermen, this has been a dream come true for me and an honor to wear this logo and have a chance to be a leader. I'm going to think about retiring, talk to my family. I don't want this to be my last game, but it could be.

"If this was it, I walk out of here with my head held high."

Dave Eminian covers the Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.